Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances children’s well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International Ethiopia is looking for Operational Director / Deputy CD for Country Office who will be reporting to the Country Director.

Role Purpose:

The Operational Director/Deputy Country Director (OD/DCD) position will report directly to the Country Director (CD) and will assume direct responsibility and accountability for the overall management, effective support, oversight and development of departments covering Finance, Logistics & Administration (including ICT and Security), ,  and Human Resources/Organisational Development (including Legal) (HR/OD)to support the delivery of quality and integrated programming in line with the organisational standards, frameworks and procedures. The OD/DCD will lead these departments in ensuring the overall timely and quality delivery of the Plan Ethiopia’s country strategy. 

Supporting the CD, the OD/DCD will undertake a senior internal and external representation role on operations side with key stakeholders. The OD/ DCD will be a member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT) and will provide high-level strategic leadership to the office as a whole, working collaboratively with other CLT members.

Dimensions of the Role:

• The post holder will report to the Country Director, and leads and manages the Finance, HR, Logistics & Administrations teams at CO level so that there is strong operational support to program and field teams, through robust support services, systems & procedures
• The OD/DCD is a member of the Country Leadership Team along with other head of departments and is expected to contribute to Plan’s understanding and strategic direction in the country. S/he may deputize for CD as required and if needed in relation to external stakeholders;
• The OD/DCD directly supervises, supports and mentors the Head of Finance, the Head of HR/OD (including legal), and the Head of Logistics & Administration (including security and ITC),
• The OD/DCD reports regularly to the CD on the management of all risks associated with programme delivery including, financial management, people management, procurement and general administration, legal compliance, and security.
• The OD/DCD will provide overall oversight of investigations on a delegated basis from the CD
• The OD/DCD oversees the management of the annual operations support budget at CO and PA level to ensure overall operational efficiency.

 Accountabilities

Strategic leadership in Operations Management

• Strategic planning: contributes to the strategic development and management of the country in particular by review, update and reporting of country strategy and annual plans.
• Financial Management: line manages the Head of Finance, and ensures appropriate financial controls processes, procedures and systems are in place and adhered to
• Human Resources: line manages the Head of HR/OD and ensures that the processes and systems related to recruitment, compensation, management, and development of staff members as per Plan’s global policies and procedures;
• Operations Support services (Logistics, administration, procurement, security and IT). Line manages the Head of Logistics & Administration department and provides overall management to the operations support services to ensure that optimum support is provided to Country Office, Programme Areas and established Plan operational principles and operational manual.

 Compliance and Oversight

• Policies and procedures: coordinates with relevant heads of Department/Section so that systems and processes are in place to comply with  Plan global policies, standards and procedures and legal requirements in the areas of Finance, HR/OD,  child protection/safeguarding, administration & logistics, ICT, and security
• Child Protection: ensures the compliance and coherence of Plan’s Child Protection Policy at all times to safeguard and protect children from all forms of abuse;
• Security: oversees security planning and management in the country and ensure that all Plan offices (CO and PA/PUs) have developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contingency plans consistent with global security policy and procedures.  OD/OCD is the chair of the Security Review Team working closely with the Security lead.
• Loss and Incident reporting: on a delegated basis, reports timely and consistently all losses and incidents (theft, bribery, fraud, injuries etc.), including updates, to the Global Hub (GH)and the Regional Hub (RH)  and oversees investigations and the follow up actions ;
• Legal and regulatory: oversees the review of agreements and contracts and ensures compliance with Plan policies, Ethiopian laws and regulation, ensures the interface with the legal advisor, timely reports all potential legal cases to legal advisor and to the RH and to GH as relevant;
• Disaster Preparedness:  together with relevant head of departments participates in disaster preparedness planning and ensure that all action related to support functions are implemented and systems , procedures and capacities are in place to respond timely and effectively to humanitarian emergencies
• Ensures appropriate linkages between the 3 operational departments are in place and functional

 Team and People Management

• Team building and maintenance: establish, agree, communicate and monitor standard of performance and behaviours for the operations support units. Team ToRs, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPI’s) are agreed annually, and monitored and updated quarterly.
• Individual development and performance management: manage and develop the performance of the operations support teams across the country to ensure delivery of quality support and services. This includes agree, monitor and evaluate individual accountability and personal development plans as per Plan’s performance management policy and process.

 Procedures, process and applications support

• Applications and systems support: oversees the in-country rollout of corporate systems and applications including relevant ERP/SAP modules, HR Information System (HRIS) and other corporate applications;
• Global and regional policies and procedures: oversee the rollout, including staff training, of global operational policies and procedures in the country;
• In-country policies and procedures: oversees the development and implementation of up-to-date support services systems, policies, procedures and guidelines to support in-country operations and ensure compliance of Plan’s global standards and donor requirements.

 Other responsibilities

• Liaison with stakeholders: liaise with and communicates with government bodies, donors, other Plan offices and local and international agencies stakeholders – as required and directed by the Country Director.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Knowledge

• A Master’s Degree in Business/ Finance/ Business Administration
• A minimum of 10 years proven progressive experience as a development professional in similar management and senior management roles with an INGO or likeminded organisation
• Demonstrated track record in driving change and enabling high performing teams, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Knowledge of key issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and their implications for organisations like Plan and its work.
• Practical knowledge of operations support for development and emergency response.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Financial, HR, Administrative,  ICT, Security, and business management matters;
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), e-mail and internet;
• Strong knowledge of the requirements of donors’ compliance and grants management;
• Fluency in English spoken and written including exceptional presentation and communication skills
• Knowledge of Ethiopian geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country as well as the political, social and economic opportunities for development are an advantage.

 Skills:

• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and the ability to convey sound judgement and assurance to team members and other key internal stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues through remote means and in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• A strong understanding of key institutional donor compliance rules and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically